Putting cup arrangement for golf practice

ABSTRACT

A putting cup arrangement in the form of a box structure for putting practice away from a golf course is described. The arrangement simulates a hard-bound book volume and includes a cover portion which is pivotally hinged to the remainder of the structure in the same manner as a book cover is hinged to the remainder of a book. A wall of the structure immediately beneath the hinged cover portion is provided with an aperture which simulates the opening of a golf cup. The cover portion is pivotal on the hinged securance between a closed position lying flat against the wall having the aperture and an open position in which the aperture is revealed and the cover portion acts as a ramp for the passage of a ball to the aperture. The floor below the aperture slopes downward to a flap in a side wall which may be opened so that balls may be discharged from the box structure. A partition interiorly of the box structure provides a space for ball storage and defines a raceway extending from a position below the aperture to the sidewall flap opening.

United States Patent 7 Kenney [54] PUTTING CUP ARRANGEMENT FOR GOLF PRACTICE [72] Inventor: Jerald R. Kenney, 360 Mountain Avenue, Piedmont, Calif. 9461 1 [22] Filed: April 21, 1971 211 App]. No: 136,142

[52] US. Cl ..273/178 R, 273/179 C, 206/46 B [51] Int. Cl. ..A63b 57/00 [58] Field of Search ..273/177, 178, 179, 180, 127,

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Great Britain ..273/178 R Great Britain ..273/178 R 1 5] Oct. 24, 1972 Primary ExaminerGeorge J. Marlo Att0rneyHarris Zimmerman [5 7] ABSTRACT A putting cup arrangement in the form of a box structure for putting practice away from a golf course is described. The arrangement simulates a hard-bound book volume and includes a cover portion which is pivotally hinged to the remainder of the structure in the same manner as a book cover is hinged to the remainder of a book. A wall of the structure immediately beneath the hinged cover portion is provided with an aperture which simulates the opening of a golf cup. The cover portion is pivotal on the hinged securance between a closed position lying flat against the wall having the aperture and an open position in which the aperture is revealed. and the cover portion acts as a ramp for the passage of a ball to the aperture.

The floor below the aperture slopes downward to a flap in a side wall which may be opened so that balls may be discharged from the box structure. A partition interiorly of the box structure provides a space for ball storage and defines a raceway extending from a position below the aperture to the sidewall flap opening.

8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDum 24 m2 INVENTOR. JERALD R.KENNE Y ATTORNEY PUTTING CUP ARRANGEMENT FOR GOLF PRACTICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an arrangement forpracticing golf putting and, more particularly, to such an arrangement which simulates a hard-bound book to provide an attractive and yet simple and compact gift item or the like.

It has become commonplace for many inveterate golfers to practice their putting game at various times and locations. To facilitate such practice away from a golf course or putting green, various arrangements have been provided which aredesigned to be placed on a floor or the like and simulate a golf cup. Most of such arrangements are generally quite simple and although satisfactory for their purpose do not have very much in the way of aesthetic appeal which might make them suitable for a gift. Moreover, most of such arrangements provide only the cup, per se, and do not include means for storing or accommodating golf balls when not in use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a putting cup arrangement for golf practice which quite attractively simulates a hard-bound book volume, which simulation is interwoven with the functional aspects of the arrangement. The putting cup device of the instant invention also includes means for storing or boxing a plurality of golf balls for use with the device or as an adjunct to the device if it is intended as a gift. In its basic aspects, the golf putting cup arrangement of the invention comprises a booklike box structure having a cover portion hingedly secured along one edge to the remainder of the box structure and normally lying flat thereagainst in a closed position to simulate one cover of a hard-bound book. The box structure further includes a wall which lies directly beneath the cover portion when such portion is in its closed position, such wall having an aperture leading to the interior of the box structure and simulating the opening of a putting green cup. The cover portion is pivotal on the hinge securance between the closed position hiding the aperture from view and an open position revealing both the wall and the aperture therethrough and in which the cover portion otherwise acts as a ramp for the travel of balls to the upper part of the box-like structure for passage through the aperture. That is, when the cover portion is in its open position, its free edge opposite its hinged edge can rest on the same surface on which the box structure is placed with the aperture positioned to receive balls so that the cover acts as an upwardly sloping ramp for the balls.

It will be seen from the above that not only does the golf putting cup arrangement simulate a book, but also that the cover portion thereof plays a vital part in defining the putting cup arrangement when the arrangement is appropriately positioned to enable putting practice. Most desirably, the wall providing the aperture simulating the opening of a putting cup is selectively removable from the box to facilitate access to the interior of such box. Thus, one can use the interior of the box for the storage of golf balls or to house golf balls given with the structure as a gift. Moreover, the arrangement also includes door means facilitating discharge of balls putted into the structure, as well as a partition separating a raceway to the door for balls putted into the box BRIEF DESCRIPTION'OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the golf putting cup arrangement of the invention illustrating the manner in which it simulates a book;

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1 illustrating the same with the cover portion pivoted to its open position at which it acts as a ramp for balls putted to the golf cup simulating aperture;

FIG. 3 is an exploded and partially broken away perspective view of the preferred embodiment depicting the manner in which the wall providing the aperture is selectively removable from the remainder of the box structure and illustrating the interior construction of such box structure; and

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view taken on a plane indicated by lines 44 in FIG. 3 and illustrating a ramp facilitating discharge from the structure of balls putted through the aperture into the interior of the box.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to the accompanying sheet of drawing, the golf putting cup arrangement of the invention is generally referred to by the reference numeral 11. As is illustrated, particularly in FIG. 1, the arrangement quite closely resembles a hard-bound book. That is, it is made up of a box like structure having planar upper and lower cover portions 12 and 13 respectively joined along one edge by a side wall 14 simulating a book back binding. Other side walls, upper and lower ones 16 and 17 respectively, and an end one 18, also extend.

between the cover portions 12 and 13 to provide the box-like structure with a rectangular geometry simulating a book. In this connection, it. is to be noted that each of the side walls 16, 17, and 18 are spaced in wardly of the structure a slight distance from the edges of the cover portions so that they are located at the positions at which page edges terminate, thereby enhancing the book simulation.

Each of the side walls 14-18 is secured to the lower cover portion 13. However, the upper cover portion 12 is secured to the remainder of the box-like structure only via a hinge securance along that edge joining the binding side wall 14. The result is that the cover portion 12 is pivotal like the cover of a book between the closed position shown in FIG. 1 in which it lies flat against the remainder of the box structure and the open position shown in FIG. 2. With respect to the latter position, it will be noted that in this position the free edge 19 of the cover portion opposite that edge which is hingedly secured to the remainder of the box structure, rests on the surface on which the structure is placed for use as a putting cup arrangement. The result is that the cover portion 12 acts as a ramp for the passage of a golf ball, schematically represented at 21, to the upper portion of the box-like structure. In this connection, the box structure is provided with a wall 22 which is positioned to lie directly beneath the cover portion when it is in its closed position and which extends between the various side walls of the structure. The wall 22 is provided with a central aperture 23 simulating the opening of a putting green cup. It is the aperture 23 which provides the target which is desired for putting practice. Thus, in use, one putts a ball along the surface and up the ramp provided by the cover portion 12 toward the hole 23.

It will be seen from the above that the cover portion 12 has several functions. For one, it simulates the cover of a book and, in this connection, it can be provided with an appropriate title such as that illustrated in FIG. 1. When the cover portion is in its closed position it also acts to hide from view the wall 22 and its aperture, thus tending to obscure the true function of the arrangement. When the cover is in its open position as illustrated in FIG. 2, it not only reveals the wall 22 and aperture 23 but provides a ramp for the travel of a ball to the aperture. Thus, the hinge securance of the cover portion 12 not only aids in the book simulation, but it also enables the cover portion to functionally cooperate with the remainder of the structure in providing its intended use as a practice putting cup.

Means are provided to enable discharge from the structure of balls which enter through the aperture 23. More particularly, the side wall 17 is provided with a door flap 24 which is biased to remain normally in the closed position illustrated in FIG. 1, but which will open outwardly in response to the pressure of a ball thereon to allow the ball to leave the structure. In this connection, and as is best illustrated in FIG. 3, a elongated U-shaped partition 26 is provided within the interior of the box structure separating the raceway or path of a ball entering the aperture 23 and traveling to the door, from the remainder of the structures interior. That is, the U-shaped or cylindrical portion of the partition coincides with the periphery of the aperture 23 and extends downwardly therefrom to the bottom cover portion 13. The legs of the partition extend from the cylindrical portion to positions against the interior surface of wall 17 on opposite sides of the door flap 24. The result is that the partition defines a raceway or path between the aperture 23 and the flap.

The raceway or pathway defined by the partition 26 also includes means for assuring that balls which enter therein are discharged through the door 24 rather than just remaining stationary within the box structure. More particularly, as is illustrated in FIG. 4, a wedge shaped ramp member 27 whose edge periphery conforms to the inner periphery of the partition 26 is positioned on the interior surface of the bottom cover portion 13 within the partition 26. The butt end of the wedge member is provided at the cylindrical portion end of the partition whereas its thin end is provided adjacent the door 24 so that the wedge member provides a ramp sloping from beneath the aperture 23 to the flap 24. Thus, assuming that the structure is positioned on a level surface when it is being used, any ball entering the aperture 23 will be caused by gravity to roll down the ramp and against the door flap 24. As indicated before, a ball so striking the flap 24 will open the same and be discharged from the structure. Thus, one using the apparatus need not be concerned with having to remove the balls from the structure before such balls can be reused.

The apparatus of the invention is also designed to enable one to use the box-like structure to either store balls between uses of to provide an attractive package for a plurality of balls. More particularly, the wall 22 is made selectively removable from the remainder of the structure to facilitate access to that portion of the interior of the structure separated from the raceway by the partition 26. That is, the wall 22 is provided along two opposed edges with depending side walls 28 and 29 which are generally of the same height as the side walls 18 and 14 of the structure and fit within the interior of the structure adjacent such side walls. The walls 28 and 29 thus act to support the wall 22 at its location immediately beneath the cover portion 12. However, they are not rigidly secured within the structure and enable the wall 22 to be lifted therefrom as is illustrated in FIG. 3. The remainder of the interior of the structure is thus made available for balls as is shown in FIG. 3.

It will be appreciated from the above that the arrangement of the invention provides a quite simple and compact putting practicing arrangement. Of great importance, however, is that is provides such an arrangement which is aesthetically appealing and which is attractive for gift purposes. The structure can be made inexpensively of a hard cardboard or the like, and sold as a gift item packaging a plurality of balls. The receiver of such a gift would therefore not only receive the golf balls but also a useful arrangement for practicing putting.

While the invention has been described in connection with one preferred embodiment thereof, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made to it without departing from the scope of the invention. It is therefore intended that the coverage afforded applicant be limited only be the claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:

1. A golf putting cup arrangement for use in practice and simulating a book comprising a book-like box structure having side walls and a cover portion hingedly secured along one edge to the remainder of said box structure along one of said side walls and normally lying flat against said structure in a closed position to simulate one cover of a hardbound book, said box structure including a top wall disposed normal to said side walls and positioned to lie directly beneath said cover portion when said portion is in said closed position, said top wall having an aperture communicating with the interior of the box structure simulating the opening of a putting green cup, said cover portion being pivotal on said hinge securance between said closed position and an open position revealing said top wall and said aperture therethrough and in which the free edge of said cover portion opposite said hinged edge rests on a putting surface so that said cover portion provides a ramp from said surface to said wall for a golf ball or the like putted along said surface toward said aperture, one of said side walls having an opening therethrough communicating with the interior of the box and with said aperture whereby a ball dropping into said top wall aperture may be discharged through said side wall opening.

2. The golf putting cup arrangement of claim 1 wherein said one side wall includes door means releasably closing said side wall opening.

3. The golf putting cup arrangement of claim 1 wherein said box structure includes interiorly thereof a ramp sloping from beneath said aperture to said side wall opening to facilitate discharge through said opening of balls entering through said aperture.

4. The golf putting cup arrangement of claim 1 wherein said top wall having said aperture is selectively removable from the remainder of said box structure to facilitate access to the entire interior of said box structure.

5. The golf putting cup arrangement of claim 4 wherein a partition is provided within the interior of said box structure beneath said top wall separating a portion of the interior including that in communication with said opening and said aperture from the remainder of said interior.

6. The golf putting cup arrangement of claim 5 wherein said box-like structure includes door means at said side wall opening thereof enabling discharge from the structure of balls entering it through said aperture, and wherein said partition extends to said door means and defines a raceway to said door means for balls entering into said structure through said aperture.

7. The golf putting cup arrangement of claim 6 wherein said door means is in the :form of a flap in said side wall of said structure and which normally remains in a closed position.

8. The golf putting cup arrangement of claim 6 wherein said box structure includes interiorly thereof a ramp sloping from beneath said aperture to said door means to facilitate discharge through said door means of balls entering through said top wall aperture. 

1. A golf putting cup arrangement for use in practice and simulating a book comprising a book-like box structure having side walls and a cover portion hingedly secured along one edge to the remainder of said box structure along one of said side walls and normally lying flat against said structure in a closed position to simulate one cover of a hardbound book, said box structure including a top wall disposed normal to said side walls and positioned to lie directly beneath said cover portion when said portion is in said closed position, said top wall having an aperture communicating with the interior of the box structure simulating the opening of a putting green cup, said cover portion being pivotal on said hinge securance between said closed position and an open position revealing said top wall and said aperture therethrough and in which the free edge of said cover portion opposite said hinged edge rests on a putting surface so that said cover portion provides a ramp from said surface to said wall for a golf ball or the like putted along said surface toward said aperture, one of said side walls having an opening therethrough communicating with the interior of the box and with said aperture whereby a ball dropping into said top wall aperture may be discharged through said side wall opening.
 2. The golf putting cup arrangement of claim 1 wherein said one side wall includes door means releasably closing said side wall opening.
 3. The golf putting cup arrangement of claim 1 wherein said box structure includes interiorly thereof a ramp sloping from beneath said aperture to said side wall opening to facilitate discharge through said opening of balls entering through said aperture.
 4. The golf putting cup arrangement of claim 1 wherein said top wall having said aperture is selectively removable from the remainder of said box structure to facilitate access to the entire interior of said box structure.
 5. The golf putting cup arrangement of claim 4 wherein a partition is provided within the interior of said box structure beneath said top wall separating a portion of the interior including that in communication with said opening and said aperture from the remainder of said interior.
 6. The golf putting cup arrangement of claim 5 wherein said box-like structure iNcludes door means at said side wall opening thereof enabling discharge from the structure of balls entering it through said aperture, and wherein said partition extends to said door means and defines a raceway to said door means for balls entering into said structure through said aperture.
 7. The golf putting cup arrangement of claim 6 wherein said door means is in the form of a flap in said side wall of said structure and which normally remains in a closed position.
 8. The golf putting cup arrangement of claim 6 wherein said box structure includes interiorly thereof a ramp sloping from beneath said aperture to said door means to facilitate discharge through said door means of balls entering through said top wall aperture. 